 | Thinking Outside The Box May Be the Problem
Issue: Vol. 53, No. 5, May 2013
I recently met a young man who was new to business. Bright-eyed and enthusiastic, he looked as if he was wearing his first grownup suit. He managed to land a decent job in a creative field, but he now seemed perplexed. Returning from a corporate retreat where junior employees were encouraged to "think outside the box," he was confused that many of his "out of the box" ideas had been shot down immediately... by Hank Schlesinger
Author: Hank Schlesinger
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| The Sin Tax Threat
Issue: Vol. 53, No. 4, April 2013
Last year, after a deranged shooter committed mass murder at a movie theater in Aurora, CO, that town's mayor told reporters he was thinking about calling for a ban on violent videogames and maybe imposing sin taxes on them. This ongoing story carries important lessons for the entire music and games industry... by Marcus Webb
Author: Marcus Webb
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| Trade Show Takeaway: Back To Normal
Issue: Vol. 53, No. 4, April 2013
Another year, another show. There is something to be said for viewing an industry through the lens of annual gatherings. Some observations about the NBVA's collocation with Amusement Expo... by Hank Schlesinger
Author: Hank Schlesinger
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| Seven Strategies For Sales Success
Issue: Vol. 53, No. 3, March 2013
Every organization involved in music and games is a sales company -- or should be. Operators sell to locations. Distributors sell to operators. Manufacturers effectively sell to both. Associations sell to everybody. Based on my own experiences and in-person observations of world-class sales professionals in various industries, here are seven strategies for more successful sales... by Marcus Webb
Author: Marcus Webb
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| Designing Bulk Vending Routes For Greater Efficiency
Issue: Vol. 53, No. 3, March 2013
Many operators who are fastidious in most areas of their businesses, from machine maintenance to location relations, often fail to review the most basic elements of how their route drivers get from points A to points B, and beyond... by Hank Schlesinger
Author: Hank Schlesinger
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| Can Innovation Save Coin-Op?
Issue: Vol. 53, No. 2, February 2013
Beyond the music and games industry, the hottest buzzword in today's business world is innovation. From the Fortune 100 to tiny startups, companies are eager to portray themselves as innovative innovators who are innovating endless innovations (innovatively, of course)... by Marcus Webb
Author: Marcus Webb
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| There Ain’t No App For That
Issue: Vol. 53, No. 2, February 2013
It's possibly one of the most overused phrases in the age of mobile devices. But this expression hit me profoundly recently when uttered by a friend... by Hank Schlesinger
Author: Hank Schlesinger
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| Debunking 'The New Normal'
Issue: Vol. 53, No. 1, January 2013
A new year prompts an obligatory look back, and for many this won't be a particularly pleasant exercise this time around... by Hank Schlesinger
Author: Hank Schlesinger
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| When You're On Your Own
Issue: Vol. 53, No. 1, January 2013
Let's face it: 2012 was a challenging year for much of the amusement industry. Between Hurricane Sandy and the N.C. Supreme Court's thumbs-down on sweepstakes videogames, trade members encountered some very tough weather. The year's best news? by Marcus Webb
Author: Marcus Webb
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| IAAPA Show Offers Range Of Opinions On State Of Industry
Issue: Vol. 52, No. 12, December 2012
One exhibitor's "waste of time and money" is another's record-breaking year. The same could be said for operator participants who judge shows by the quality and price of equipment and merchandise... by Hank Schlesinger
Author: Hank Schlesinger
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| Renewal
Issue: Vol. 52, No. 12, December 2012
Optimism may be out of style, and many industry members may be out of practice feeling it, but we believe that upbeat observations of AMOA's Andy Shaffer deserve respectful attention and careful thought... by Marcus Webb
Author: Marcus Webb
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| From L.A. To Orlando
Issue: Vol. 52, No. 11, November 2012
Let me tell you a true story about the birth of a successful new product in another industry. This story has lessons for every thoughtful businessperson -- not about how to create new products, but about how to see things in a different light... by Marcus Webb
Author: Marcus Webb
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| New Retail Models Could Hold Hidden Profit For Operators
Issue: Vol. 52, No. 11, November 2012
Putting aside all of the bad news we've endured over the past three or four years about failings of long-established store chains, it's not difficult to find so-called "trend" stories that feature retailing innovations. Competition is tough, and small locations are looking for an edge... by Hank Schlesinger
Author: Hank Schlesinger
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| Is It Time To Join The Social Media Party?
Issue: Vol. 52, No. 10, October 2012
What form social media will take in coin-op is anybody's guess. Social media platforms themselves are still in a state of rapid evolution... by Hank Schlesinger
Author: Hank Schlesinger
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| Where Are We Going?
Issue: Vol. 52, No. 10, October 2012
The videogame industry is on the verge of an historic shift that may inspire a renaissance for amusement operators, much as the digital jukebox did for music. Three megatrends will drive this historic shift... by Marcus Webb
Author: Marcus Webb
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| Gumball Bandits Are No Laughing Matter In High-Risk Sites
Issue: Vol. 52, No. 9, September 2012
Newspapers have increasingly reported thefts of bulk venders. Almost invariably, the thieves are described as "gumball bandits." Of course, it is not the gumballs they're after, but what's in the cashbox. Let's revisit some tips on how to protect your bulk vending assets... by Hank Schlesinger
Author: Hank Schlesinger
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| The Long And Winding Road
Issue: Vol. 52, No. 9, September 2012
The Illinois video lottery market is expected, at long last, to "go live" around the end of September or early in October. This expectation is based on the twin assumptions that a planned two-week test of VLTs in five locations around the state will go well, and that no major glitches will be discovered with the lottery terminals themselves or with the central computer system... by Marcus Webb
Author: Marcus Webb
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| Safeguarding Your Company's Online Profile And Reputation
Issue: Vol. 52, No. 8, August 2012
Today, everyone has an online presence. Like it or not, the chances are that there's enough data about you floating around the Internet to fill a book. Of course, this is old news. The newer news is that information is now available online about even the smallest businesses, too... by Hank Schlesinger
Author: Hank Schlesinger
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| Who Wants $1 Coins?
Issue: Vol. 52, No. 8, August 2012
Okay, here's a quick test. Did you interpret this headline to mean, "Nobody wants dollar coins?" If so, please go back and read it again -- and stop trying so hard to read a political spin into plain English. The headline is an honest question. But its seeming ambiguity reflects the confusion that surrounds this complex issue... by Marcus Webb
Author: Marcus Webb
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| Tempting Consumers By Keeping Up Appearances
Issue: Vol. 52, No. 6, June 2012
Small luxuries become even more important once larger ones move out of economic reach. The trick for the bulk vending industry is to find a product that strikes a chord with its customer base... by Hank Schlesinger
Author: Hank Schlesinger
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| What’s New?
Issue: Vol. 52, No. 7, July 2012
The amusement industry has a complicated and paradoxical relationship with the concept of newness. Some operators believe staple equipment requires only periodic updating to remain competitive. Others believe industry growth demands offering experiences that consumers cannot get at home. Which side of this debate is right? by Marcus Webb
Author: Marcus Webb
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| The Big Five-O – Or, Life Begins At Fifty
Issue: Vol. 52, No. 5, May 2012
Don't look now, but somebody is having a silver anniversary. Vending Times printed its first edition in 1962 (after incorporating in 1961), and is 50 years old this year... by Marcus Webb
Author: Marcus Webb
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| What Do We Talk About When We Talk About Money?
Issue: Vol. 52, No. 5, May 2012
Future trends are difficult to predict. They can be debated endlessly, though it may be helpful to consider that payments for purchases have all been trending toward ever-greater convenience for centuries... by Hank Schlesinger
Author: Hank Schlesinger
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| A New Generation Of Professionals Enters Vending
Issue: Vol. 52, No. 4, April 2012
In speaking with NBVA convention-goers last month, I got a sense there's renewed optimism in the air. This shouldn't be surprising -- entrepreneurs are naturally optimistic... by Hank Schlesinger
Author: Hank Schlesinger
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| After Ecast, What?
Issue: Vol. 52, No. 4, April 2012
Ecast's abrupt departure created something of a shock for many industry members. Why? Exploring the reasons behind the industry's surprised reaction to the "not-so-surprising" news may reveal some interesting things... by Marcus Webb
Author: Marcus Webb
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